The Encore of Us novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: The Orchestra

The tabloid lay across the bakery counter at five on Thursday morning, folded to the front page.

KILLER'S LOVE NEST, the headline said, in letters two inches high.

Under it was a photograph of me kissing Anders in the pre-op corridor, taken from behind a pillar.

I had worked eleven nights at the Richfield bakery, and I knew the owner's hands by the burns on them.

He stood behind the register with his arms crossed.

"It says you slept with the old conductor for a seat in his orchestra," he said. "Now the son."

"It says an unnamed Hall insider told them."

"It says you killed a man."

"I served for it, sir."

"The ladies from the church came in at four and read it out loud."

He shook his head.

"I can't have it, Linnea. I'm sorry. Take what's in the envelope."

It held two weeks of pay and a day-old loaf.

I took the bread because Tove liked it.

I walked out into the dark with the paper under my arm, and I did not cry until I reached the corner.

The story had one line I'd read three times.

The Hall's musicians are said to be disgusted by her return.

Ingrid had written that line herself, or somebody had written it for her.

Anders was at the lake house when I called, and he said he was coming straight over to go to a lawyer.

"No," I said.

"Linnea, this is libel. Every word."

"It is. But the people who matter are reading it at their stands this morning."

I wiped my face.

"I want to say it to them myself."

"Then I'll come."

"You can't. If you stand beside me, it's the heir protecting his girl."

He was quiet.

"Go home to Tove," I said. "I'll call you."

At ten past ten I walked up the iron stairs to the stage door.

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